The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-09-21
The Presidential Question.
-St. Johnsbury Republican. !


g Harrison and Hawley is the presidential
ticket l should like to see put in the field
said Congressman w. W. Grout to a Repub-
Lcan scribe" Ben Harrison of Indiana
and Joseph r. Hawley of Connecticut"
Why" queried the scribe, " do you re-
gard that as the strongest ticket that conld
be put before the people?'
For several reasons" replied General
Grout. " In the first place, there is the tenn
perance element of the republican party to
be consulted That element is large and
growing. 1t is making an active canvass all
over the country and is gaining strength
almost daily. 1t is liable to poll a good
many votes in the general election-so many
that we cannot afford to ALLEVIATE it. Now
our presidential candidate must not be
offensive to that element of our party. i
do not say that he must be an ultra temper
anCe man, but he must not be a man whom
the temperance people would promptly and
bitterly antagonize. In this respect Harri
son and Hawley cannot be excepted to.
They are honorable, high-minded men, of
correct principle and lofty views. No tenn
perance MAINLAND no other man, for that
matter-can say word against either of
them; and their nomination would concili-
ate large and important element OF our
party-which is more than can be said of
some men very prominently mentioned for
our national ticket. Then, again con-
timed General Grout "here is this great
question of civil service reform. We must
have man in favor of that reform, and
whose record gives assurance that he will
do everything in his power to promote it.
In this respect the ticket have mentioned
is uneXceptionable. Senator Harrison de-
livered in the senate one of the strongest
speeches ever made in favor of the reform
and in criticism of the democratic sham re-
form, and General Hawley is universally
known as active by voice and vote for civil
service reform. Probably good many of
the leading mugwumps would vote Tor
Cleveland, no matter whom we nominated
even if we nominated an angel from heaven;
but in the country at large host of those
people upon whom party ties sit lightly
would cast their fortunes with us. Still
further, each man is from doubtful state.
Indiana may be regarded as democratic, and
Connecticut waivers between democracy and
republicanism. But Harrison would carry
Indiana high and dry and Hawley would
make a clean sweep of Connecticut With
any other candidates the result. in both these
states would be doubtful, but with Harri-
son and Hawley they are sure for the repub-
Leans. This is an important point, and well
worth careful thought. In the next place,
Harrison and Hawley are both soldiers, OF
gallant and honorable records, and the fact
will tell with the great soldier element OF
the country Both are men OF high ability
and wide experience in public affairs, and,
if elected, will fill the honors of president
and Vice-president to the satisfaction OF the
great mass of the people with honor and
dignity On the whole, therefore, looking
at the thing from every point of view, | am
convinced that Harrison and Hawley is the
strongest ticket we can nominate. am free
to say that looking at ability and not at
availability the names might be transposed;
but the trouble is the West does not want
an eastern man and won't have one-unless
it be Mr.. Blaine, who is not distinctively an
eastern man but a national man"
" But questioned the reporter, the pres
ent outlook is very strongly in favor of Mr..
Blaine is it not?'
a." 1t u.s." responded General Grout. 1t
looks now very much as If Mr.. Blaine would
be the nominee. IL such proves TO be the
case we shall lose the mugwump vote, of
course, but we shall make large gains from
the rank and file of the democratic party
and from what may be called in general
way the labor vote. But whoever may be
nominated, we shall carry the day at the
next election. Put that prediction down in
your notebook and look at IL next year.